Ever since an unsuccessful assassination attempt was made on former US President Donald Trump, the word “assassination” has been everywhere. Assassinations have played a pivotal role in warfare and spycraft throughout world history, often serving as a means to eliminate key figures and also destabilise adversaries. History is replete with many successful assassinations including that of Julius Caesar (44 BCE), Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, 35th US President John F. Kennedy and the 1942 Operation Anthropoid wherein Czech resistance fighters, trained by British forces, assassinated Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking Nazi official during the Second World War.
There have also been unsuccessful assassination attempts as well including that of 40th US President Ronald Reagon. The CIA’s numerous attempts to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro are legendary for their creativity and ultimate failure. Interestingly, there was a British plan “Operation Foxley” to assassinate Adolf Hitler during World War II, but it was never executed.
In warfare and intelligence, the use of assassination as a tool reflects its effectiveness in altering the course of events. The Assassins left a lasting impact on both Eastern and Western history. Their method of targeted killing as a tool of political and religious influence set a precedent that would be echoed throughout history. The fear they invoked was such that their legend persisted long after the events, often carrying an element of myth and mysticism with it.
In contemporary times, the term “assassination” still carries the weight of its dark origins, reflecting a practice of deliberate and often politically motivated killing that continues to shape global events. The story of the Assassins serves as a potent reminder of the enduring power of fear and the lengths to which individuals and groups will go to achieve their aims. It would be thus, interesting to know about who the original Assassins were, how they carried out killings and their cannabis connection.
The origin of the word ‘Assassins‘
The term “assassination” has a fascinating and somewhat ominous origin, rooted in the history of a medieval Shia Muslim sect that came to be known as the Assassins. This group, formally called the Nizari Ismailis, emerged in the late 11th century under the leadership of Hasan-i Sabbah, in the mountainous regions of Persia and Syria. The Shi’ite Ismailis sect is said to have been formed after they split from other Muslims over their adherence to Ismail, the eldest son of the sixth imam Jafar al-Sadiq in the 8th century CE. While the orthodox Shi’tes supported Ismail’s brother Musa al-Kazim as the 7th Imam, the Ismailis backed Ismail’s Muhammad al-Mahdi. These Islmailis believed that Mahdi would arrive and restore peace and justice. These beliefs of Ismailis, however, were dissident by orthodox Shias and Baghdad-based Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE).
Later in the 11th century, the Ismailis sect split into two groups after a dynastic dispute, the supporters of Abu Manzur Nizar came to be known as Nizari Ismailis, who went on to become the original “assassins”. Between 1130 and 1151 CE, the cult expanded and gained control of a line of hilltop fortresses. Several strongholds were located in northern Syria, specifically in the Jabal Ansariyya region, which was once a border zone with the Syrian Crusader States. These acquisitions included the fortified town of Masyaf in the Orontes Valley of Syria, which was captured about 1141 CE and became the capital of the Nizari Ismailis. As the Second Crusade failed to regain control of Edessa from Muslims, and the defeat of Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany at the hands of the Seljuq Turks separately, the Nizari Ismailis faced nearly no challenge. They, sometimes paid “tributes” to the Crusader States to maintain their isolation. In addition, these Hashashins sometimes supported the Crusaders in the fights against the Sunni Muslims.
The Cannabis and ‘paradise’ connection of Shi’ite Assassins
The word “assassination” derives from “Hashshashin,” a name given to the followers of Hasan-i Sabbah. These followers were often referred to as “Hashshashins” because they purportedly consumed hashish (cannabis) before carrying out the killings. The Arabic term “al-Hashishiyyun” or “Hashshashin” [one who consumes Hasish] was eventually corrupted into “assassinus” in Latin and then “assassin” in European languages, leading to the modern word “assassination,” which now signifies the act of deliberately killing a prominent or important person, usually for political reasons.
Notable chroniclers like Marco Polo claimed that Sabbah’s adherents committed political murders while under the influence of Hashish. According to some academics, however, Hassan-i Sabbah referred to his followers as Asasiyun, which means “faithful to the Asās,” or “foundation” of the faith and not “Hashish eaters”. They claim that foreign chroniclers ‘misunderstood’ the meaning of the word “Hashshashin”. The widely known and accepted accounts, however, suggest that the Nizari Ismailis indeed consumed cannabis and carried out killings while in its influence.
In his renowned text “Travels”, Marco Polo described why the Hashashins consumed Hashish. Assassins were assured a place in Paradise after their ‘martyrdom’.
The Assassins were part of a secretive and radical branch of Shia Islam. Hasan-i Sabbah, their founder, established a formidable fortress at Alamut in Persia, from where he orchestrated a series of targeted killings against political or military leaders and religious enemies (mostly Christians). These operations were intended to instil fear and to assert the group’s power and influence.
The Assassins were notorious for their stealth and efficiency, often disguising themselves as beggars, ascetics etc and blending into their targets’ surroundings before striking with deadly precision. These Assassins mostly used knives as their weapon. To optimise the political and religious ramifications of the act, assassinations were usually planned to be executed in crowded areas. Since these assassins were trained to be “suicide commandos” they were known as fidayeen.
It is interesting to note that even in modern times several Islamic terrorist organisations train their terrorists to carry out Fidayeen/suicide attacks to kill non-Muslims [Kafirs]. Much like the Hashsashins, these modern-day Jihadis are also assured a place in Jannat [Paradise].
The Nizari Ismailis took control of several fortresses in the Alborz Mountains in Persia and the Nusarriyah Mountains in Syria. Two of the most important castles held by them were Alamut in northern Persia and Masyaf in Syria as their regional capital.
The dominance of the Nizari Ismailis was ended by the Mongol leader Hülegü Khan in 1256. Hülegü, who was the grandson of Genghis Khan, led a campaign against the Nizari Ismailis in Persia as part of a broader Mongol effort to subdue the Islamic world. The key stronghold of the Nizari Ismailis, Alamut Castle, was captured and destroyed by Hülegü’s forces, effectively dismantling the power and influence of the Assassins in the region.
How Assassins continue to influence pop culture and literature
Interestingly, “assassination” and the idea of a secretive, mysterious sect of Assassins that carry out targeted political murders have permeated popular culture, inspiring a wide array of myth, mysticism, and creative interpretations in movies, television shows, and video games. This legacy reflects both the fear and ‘fascination’ that the original cannabis smoking Assassins evoked.
One of the most popular examples of assassins in modern pop culture is the Faceless Men from the popular TV series “Game of Thrones.” The Faceless Men are a mysterious and deadly order of assassins who serve the Many-Faced God in the city of Braavos. Much like the historical Assassins, the Faceless Men operate in secrecy, using their skills in disguise and stealth to carry out targeted killings.
In the Avengers series of comics and movies developed by Marvel Studios, ‘The Black Widow’, originally named Natasha Romanoff is a deadly assassin trained in Communist Russia. Agent Romanoff is played actress Scarlet Johanson in the movies.
Similarly, the “Assassin’s Creed” video game series, developed by Ubisoft, draws heavily from the historical narrative of the Assassins. The games explore a fictional conflict between the Assassins, who fight for peace with free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through control. The first game in the series features the Alamut Castle and involves various missions around the same.
In April this year, an Egyptian web series titled “Al-Hashashin” [The Assassins] on the life and times of Hassan-i-Sabah and the Nizari Ismailis was released featuring actor Karim Abdel Aziz among others. The series was banned in Iran as it claimed that the series’ depiction of the Nizari Ismailis and their activities conflicted with the government’s stance on historical narratives and religious interpretations.
The concept of the Assassin has become a staple in storytelling, especially in Hollywood shows and movies, symbolising the ultimate covert operative. Their mystique is often heightened by incorporating elements of their supposed use of hashish and the promise of ‘paradise’, creating a blend of historical fact and myth that captivates audiences.
Even in literature, the historical Assassins have been a source of fascination and inspiration, often depicted as shadowy figures skilled in the arts of stealth and subterfuge. Some of the noted literary works exploring the mystics of the Assassins include Vladimir Bartol’s 1938 novel Alamut which delves into the legend of Hassan-i Sabbah and his fanatical followers, presenting a philosophical exploration of power and manipulation. The Assassins have also been featured in works like The Assassin Legends: Myths of the Isma’ilis by Farhad Daftary, which examines the historical and mythological aspects of the sect.
